Top 10 Companies in the Layered Oxide Cathode Materials Market (2026): Industry Leaders Powering the Global Battery Revolution

In Business Insights
January 30, 2026

The Global Layered Oxide Cathode Materials Market was valued at USD 528.73 Million in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 1.19 Billion by 2030, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 12.7% during the forecast period (2024–2030). This robust growth is being driven by the rapid global adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), escalating demand for high-performance consumer electronics, and the increasing integration of renewable energy storage systems.

As the world accelerates its transition to clean energy and electrified transport, the materials that power our batteries have become critically important. Layered oxide cathode materials, such as NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) and NCA (Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum), are at the heart of modern lithium-ion batteries. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Layered Oxide Cathode Materials Industry—a group of chemical giants, specialized material suppliers, and innovative manufacturers shaping the future of energy storage.


🔟 1. Guizhou Zhenhua E-chem

Headquarters: Guizhou, China
Key Offering: NMC Cathode Materials (NMC111, NMC532, NMC622, NMC811)

Guizhou Zhenhua E-chem is a leading Chinese manufacturer specializing in the research, development, and production of advanced lithium battery materials. The company has established itself as a key supplier to major battery makers, with a strong focus on high-nickel NMC formulations that deliver superior energy density for electric vehicle applications.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • Pioneering ultra-high nickel NMC chemistries (NMC9 series)

  • Significant capacity expansions to meet growing EV battery demand

  • Investments in R&D for improved cycle life and thermal stability

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9️⃣ 2. Ningbo Ronbay New Energy

Headquarters: Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
Key Offering: NMC Cathode Materials, Single Crystal Cathodes, High-Nickel NCA

Ningbo Ronbay New Energy is a major global supplier of lithium battery cathode materials, with a comprehensive product portfolio catering to the EV, consumer electronics, and energy storage markets. The company is renowned for its technological advancements in single-crystal cathode materials, which offer enhanced safety and longevity.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • Leadership in single-crystal NMC technology development

  • Strategic partnerships with leading global battery manufacturers


8️⃣ 3. Hunan Changyuan Lico

Headquarters: Hunan, China
Key Offering: NMC Cathode Materials, Lithium Nickelate, Cobalt Acid Lithium

Hunan Changyuan Lico is a significant player in the cathode materials market, specializing in the production of lithium battery key materials. The company has a strong vertical integration strategy, controlling parts of the upstream supply chain to ensure consistent quality and cost competitiveness.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • Vertical integration from raw materials to finished cathode products

  • Focus on cost-effective production of mid-to-high nickel NMC


7️⃣ 4. Malion New Materials

Headquarters: Shandong, China
Key Offering: NMC Cathode Materials, LCO Cathode Materials

Malion New Materials specializes in the research, production, and sales of lithium-ion battery cathode materials. The company serves a diverse client base across the consumer electronics and power battery sectors, with a growing emphasis on developing materials for automotive applications.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • Expansion into high-capacity cathode materials for power batteries

  • Continuous improvement of production processes for higher yield and purity


6️⃣ 5. Hina Battery

Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Key Offering: NMC Cathode Materials, Specialized Battery Materials

Hina Battery is an emerging player focusing on the development and manufacturing of advanced battery materials. The company has been investing in next-generation cathode technologies to address the evolving needs of the battery industry, particularly for high-energy-density applications.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • R&D focused on improving the energy density and safety of NMC materials

  • Strategic positioning in the high-growth EV battery supply chain


5️⃣ 6. Natrium Energy

Headquarters: Jiangsu, China
Key Offering: Layered Oxide Cathode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries (NIBs)

Natrium Energy is a specialized company at the forefront of sodium-ion battery technology. While many players focus on lithium, Natrium Energy is pioneering layered oxide cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries, which present a promising alternative for large-scale energy storage due to the abundance and low cost of sodium.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • Leading the development of O3 and P2 type layered oxide cathodes for NIBs

  • Targeting cost-sensitive energy storage applications beyond lithium-ion

Download FREE Sample Report: Layered Oxide Cathode Materials Market – View in Detailed Research Report


4️⃣ 7. Shan XI Hua Yang Group New Energy

Headquarters: Shanxi, China
Key Offering: NMC Cathode Materials, Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)

Shan XI Hua Yang Group New Energy is a diversified energy company that has entered the cathode materials space as part of its broader new energy strategy. Leveraging its industrial background, the company is scaling up production to become a significant supplier in the competitive battery materials market.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • Leveraging group resources for rapid capacity scaling

  • Diversified product portfolio including both layered oxide and olivine-type cathodes


3️⃣ 8. Umicore

Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Key Offering: High-Performance NMC Cathode Materials, Customized Formulations

Umicore is a global materials technology and recycling group and a leading player in cathode materials outside of Asia. The company offers a wide range of high-performance NMC materials and is strongly committed to sustainability, with a closed-loop recycling approach for battery materials.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • Pioneering sustainable cathode production with a strong recycling component

  • Global production footprint with facilities in Europe and Asia


2️⃣ 9. L&F Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: South Korea
Key Offering: High-Nickel NMC, NCA Cathode Materials

L&F is a major South Korean cathode material producer with strong technological capabilities, particularly in high-nickel NMC and NCA materials. The company supplies leading battery manufacturers globally and has been instrumental in advancing the energy density of lithium-ion batteries.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • Expertise in high-nickel NCA and NMC formulations for maximum energy density

  • Continuous R&D investment to improve material performance and reduce cobalt content


1️⃣ 10. BASF SE

Headquarters: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Key Offering: HED™ Series NMC Cathode Materials, Customized Solutions

BASF is a leading global chemical company with a strong presence in the battery materials market. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of high-energy-density cathode materials under its HED™ brand and is actively expanding its production capacity in key markets to serve the growing EV industry.

Innovation & Capacity Initiatives:

  • Global R&D network focused on next-generation battery materials

  • Strategic investments in production facilities in Europe, North America, and Asia


🔋 Outlook: The Future of Layered Oxide Cathode Materials Is High-Performance and Sustainable

The layered oxide cathode materials market is undergoing a rapid transformation. While traditional NMC formulations continue to dominate, the industry is aggressively innovating to develop higher-energy-density, lower-cost, and more sustainable materials to power the next generation of batteries.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Accelerated shift towards high-nickel, low-cobalt NMC formulations (NMC811, NCMA)

  • Growing investment in sodium-ion battery cathode materials as a complementary technology

  • Increased focus on supply chain sustainability and closed-loop recycling of critical metals

  • Geographic diversification of production capacity beyond China to Europe and North America

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The companies listed above are not only supplying critical materials for today’s batteries—they’re pioneering the energy storage solutions that will power a sustainable future.